NEWSLETTER
Temperatures in Chicago are expected to hit 80something today, which is enough of an excuse for me to go out for ice cream.
- Would you sign off on this Bears alternate uniform concept:
- Admittedly, Justin Fields makes everything look cool. But I definitely think a white-on-white look with an alternate white helmet would look super fresh. Don’t get me wrong. The Bears’ classic looks are tough to beat. And they shouldn’t be messed with too much. However, I’m willing to try something new. Maybe a new regime (first-year team president, second-year GM and head coach) would be into it, too.
- At this point, I’m over the orange alternates. Akiem Hicks was into them and he was my favorite Bears player at the time, so I was down to back him up on supporting orange. But he isn’t here anymore. And I think the Bears can do some better uniform combos with that orange helmet (should they decide to keep it). Laying out a great uniform is never as easy as we think. Especially with brands trying to hit bullseye on the next big trend. I’ll be curious to see what rolls out next. Hopefully, it is something good and appealing. Look good, play good, win games. That’s all I want from the Bears in 2023 (and beyond).
- Sometimes, I find myself befuddled thinking about how there are folks who dismiss Fields’ passing ability when he showed that he can make improvements in that area during a given season:
- With the Bears set up to be the NFL’s most well-rested team in 2023, I think Fields (and play-caller Luke Getsy) will benefit greatly from it.
- To be clear, Fields has work to do mechanically and with decision-making. And the accuracy could be better. But, again, we saw Fields make in-season adjustments and improvements in those areas last year. We legitimately saw what it looked like โ in real-time! โ when the game slowed down for Fields. The night-and-day changes looked so obvious. Maybe I should know better than to expect the same will happen in 2023. After all, I know that development isn’t linear. But when a player shows real signs of growth, I’m willing to give them a runway to do it again.
- The NFL’s announcement of Peacock being the exclusive home of the first-ever live-streamed NFL Playoff game caught my eye. It is notable seeing the NBC streaming branch getting a Wild Card Weekend primetime game on Jan. 13, 2024. The league is really going from having its first cable playoff game in 2015 to having a streamer nine years later. Quite a reminder of how time flies (as does the technology with it). Patrick has that (and more) in today’s BN NFL Bullets.
- On the one hand, I see yet another network getting NFL action as something that stretches fans that much more. You’re going to need a TV guide and a sherpa to navigate you to a football game on any given day of the week at this point. But on the other hand, I just want to see the Bears in a meaningful playoff game. It doesn’t matter where at this point. Put it on Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network, Hallmark Channel, C-SPAN … whatever it takes if it means I get to see Chicago’s football team in the postseason.
- Darnell Wright was one of three Bears draft picks to sign on the dotted line on Monday. Joining Wright were third-round defensive tackle Zacch Pickens and fourth-round receiver Tyler Scott:
- This leaves second-rounders Gervon Dexter Sr. and Tyrique Stevenson, as well as fourth-rounder Roschon Johnson as the team’s only unsigned draft picks. I don’t imagine we’ll be waiting too much longer for those deals to be finalized.
- I’d like to be a fly on the wall in the running backs room when legendary NFL back Eddie George shows up as part of Matt Eberflus’ coaching staff. George is one of two coaches who are recipients of the Bill Walsh Fellowship and will be working with Eberflus during spring OTAs.
- The Bulls are trying to be the third Chicago team to land the No. 1 overall pick in its sport’s upcoming draft. And we’re rooting for you!
- Christopher Morel homering after I shut the game off in disgust after the bottom of the first taught me a lesson to never rage quit a game:
- But also … the Cubs still lost. In part because Morel misplayed a fly ball in left that led to a 4-run rally with two outs. On the one hand, that was a total bummer. But on the other hand, that felt like a teachable moment for the young utility player. If I had a third hand, I’d wonder how it got there and then ask why an infielder by trade who is a relatively inexperienced outfielder was playing one of the league’s funkiest left fields? That felt like a managerial misstep.
- It looks like the Blackhawks can get thrifty in on draft night and I’m into it:
- I don’t always bet on golf. But when I do, it’s on the majors. And with something at stake:
- No, I don’t know what I’d do with a free putter. I guess I’d have to start learning how to use it.
